Post mounting assembly for post and rail constructions

ABSTRACT

A post mounting and stabilization assembly for securing hollow posts to a foundation surface. The mounting assembly provides for wedging retainment of a hollow post thereover by the progressive engagement and deployment of opposing finger pairs extending from an integral base by a sliding deployment wedge fitting there within.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/901,566, filed Nov. 8, 2013.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to post and rail systems that utilize post supports that provide for anchor assembly over which a hollow finish post is secured in a post and rail assembly, specifically the invention relates to post support inserts on a post mount to which the railing structure is secured.

2. Description of Prior Art

Prior art fencing and railing systems have relied on a variety of mounting and post rail supporting systems for securing to a mounting surface, see for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,972,495, 5,359,827, 5,709,366, 7,188,457 and 7,802,351, applicant's own U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,141,928 and 6,718,710 and Publications 2001/0025651 and 2011/0175045.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,972,495 discloses a spring metal U-shaped anchor having an interior coupling using an expansion clamp to engage the interior of an abutting tube for connection thereto.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,827 claims a hollow fence post attachment fixture wherein multiple angle irons extend from a bottom plate with a central threaded rod onto which a top engagement plate is drawn down wedgeably engaging the angle irons forcing them outwardly against the interior of an exterior tube positioned thereon.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,366 illustrates a fence post support with a ground engaging spike having an internal expansion wedge driven by an adjustable threaded bolt and engagement plate.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,457 shows a hollow post anchoring bracket for securing a hollow post to a base with interior legs that are wedgeably expanded there against by a central advancing fitting.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,802,351 illustrates a composition post mount having an interior sub-structure with a compression plate engageable on an adapter in a receiving channel the length of the support member with a hollow post insert there over.

Applicant's own U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,928 discloses a post mount having a support block attached to a support surface with a fin insert secured thereto over which a hollow post is slideably positioned for fastener related retainment support.

Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,710 claims a post mount having a support block with an adjustment plate and a plurality of adjustment bolts threadably mounted thereto. A flange head on the support block provides frictional engagement with a hollow post inserted there over in support relation thereof.

Applicant's U.S. Publication 2010/0025651 is directed to a post insert support with opposing fingers with an expanding wedge slideably within for direct surface contact with the respective fingers wedgeably engaging with the interior surface of a hollow finish post positioned there over.

Finally, in applicant's U.S. Publication 2011/0175045, a fencing system is disclosed having a post insert which shows opposing engagement with multiple fingers with the wedging expansion insert for direct contact with the respective finger's surface forcing them outwardly against the interior of a hollow post positioned there over, retaining same and providing reinforcement thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A post mounting system for post and rail fencing provides post engagement and retention to a foundation surface utilizing a main support interior tubing mounting post secured directly to a support surface. A finished post mounting and stabilization assembly insert affords progressive frictional retainment against a hollow finished post slidably positioned thereon. An expandable wedge fitting movable on a mounting post for multiple edge engagement and displacement of stabilization insert there against.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the post mounting assembly of the invention positioned on a post installation.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rail top stabilizer of the mounting assembly.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section on lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an expansion post insert fitting of the post mounting assembly of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 7 is a section on lines 7-7 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A post mounting and stabilization system 10 of the invention can be seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings positioned on a hollow mounting post mount 11 for securing to a foundation via an attachment plate 12 shown broken away. A top rail stabilizer 13, best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings has a generally square tapered sleeve base 14 with opposing pairs of independent extending engagement finger plates 15, 16, 17 and 18. The corresponding respective finger plate pairs are integral to the base 14 with corresponding spaced adjacent elongated generally parallel edges 15B and 18A, 18B and 17B, 17A and 16B and 16A and 15A defining multiple longitudinal tapered openings 19-22 between the respective finger plates 15, 16, 17 and 18.

Each of the finger plates is of a tapered dimensional thickness from its respective base 15C, 16C, 17C and 18C to its free end edge 15D, 16D, 17D and 18D, best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The taper affords the finger plate's displacement under applied force outwardly and opposing finger plate pairs 15 and 17 and 16 and 18 indicated by directional arrows A in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The sleeve base 14 has tapered reinforcement ribs 14A on each of its exterior surfaces 14B which extend and engage with the hereinbefore described finger plates as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings with an interior uniform pass through dimension to accommodate the insertion of the top rail stabilizer 13 onto the mounting post 11 as seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings and broken lines in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

An expander wedge fitting 23 can be seen in FIGS. 4-7 and FIG. 1 of the drawings in solid and broken lines of a one piece generally square tubular configuration having interconnecting upstanding sidewalls 24, 25, 26 and 27, each within integral right angularly inwardly extending flanges 24A, 25A, 26A and 27A respectively, best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6 of the drawings. The flanges define a central opening at 28 for registration with the mounting post 11.

The adjoining sidewalls define respective curved corners 29, each of which has a finger edge engagement contoured lug 30 extending outwardly therefrom in angular relation to the respective adjoining sidewalls planar surfaces. The lugs 30 have a contoured bottom surface 30A and transitional oppositely disposed side engagement surfaces 31A, 31B as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the post mount stabilizing system 10 is illustrated in use wherein the wedge fitting 23 is shown in integral mounting post 11 engagement position in engaging deployed position on the mounting post 11 and in broken lines prior to insertion on the mounting post 11 within the finger plates 15, 16, 17, 18.

In sequential operational deployment steps, the mounting post 11 is secured to the chosen foundation by multiple fasteners, not shown, extending through corresponding aligned apertures A in the attachment plate 12, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The post stabilizer 13 is inserted onto the mounting post 11 at its desired location and secured in place by fasteners F. The expandable wedge fitting 23 is prepositioned on the support mounting post 11 acting as a sizing stabilizer to effectively adjust the post stabilizer 13 to engagement with the finished post FP, shown in broken lines in a typical post rail installation which will be positioned there over. The expander wedge fitting 23 shown in broken lines prior to use as inserted is driven down the mounting post 11 by applying external force against the fittings interlocking flanges 24A, 25A, 26A and 27A in this example shown in solid lines wherein the multiple contoured lugs 30 are correspondingly slidably engaged within the respective tapered openings 19-22 between the finger plates forcing the respective finger plates 15-18 progressively outwardly in translateral forced applied orientation to one another so as to engage the respective applied inner surfaces of the finished post FP securing and stabilizing same in place.

It will be apparent that the post stabilizer 13 as inserted and expanded as hereinbefore described will provide the adjustable size stabilization to accommodate different dimensional finished post FP as required by the thickness of the post composition encountered within the industry. Additionally, the post stabilizer 13 provides for rail reinforcement bracket attachment, if required, in such applications including placement, multiple post stabilizers 13 on a single mount post 11 as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

It will be evident that the post mounting and stabilization system 10, hereinbefore described provides for a universal fit for a variety of dimensionally sized finished posts FP for use, as noted.

It will thus be seen that a new and novel mounting post and stabilization system has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore I claim: 

1. A post mounting and stabilization assembly for post and rail fencing comprising, a mounting post, a post rail stabilizer having a sleeve base, a plurality of finger plates extending from said base, said finger plates in spaced parallel opposing pairs, said finger plates defining longitudinal openings between adjacent finger plates, a wedge fitting of said post mounting and stabilization assembly having contoured lugs extending therefrom, said wedge fitting movable relative said mounting post and said post rail stabilizer from a first position to a second lug engagement position between said respective finger plates within said longitudinal openings.
 2. The post mounting and stabilization assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein said post rail stabilizer is secured to said mounting post by a plurality of fixation fasteners.
 3. The post mounting and stabilization assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein said finger plates are wedgeably forced against inner engagement surfaces of said fence post in response to movement of said wedge fitting from said first position to said second lug engagement position between said respective finger plates within said longitudinal openings.
 4. The post mounting and stabilization assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein said finger plates are of a tapered dimensional thickness from said sleeve base to their corresponding oppositely disposed free edge, and said longitudinal openings between said finger plates are tapered.
 5. The post mounting and stabilization assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein said wedge fitting has inwardly extending flanges defining a mounting post opening and at least one depending sidewall having said multiple contoured lugs extending therefrom in horizontal aligned spaced relation to one another.
 6. The post mounting and stabilization assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein said inwardly extending flanges comprises, a wedge displacement engagement drive surface about said mounting post.
 7. The post mounting and stabilization assembly set forth in claim 1 further comprising, a sliding engagement between said contoured lugs and opposing parallel edges of said adjacent finger plates translates downward movement of said lugs there between to horizontal movement of so engaged opposing pairs of said finger plates against said internal engagement surfaces of said mounting post.
 8. The post mounting and stabilization assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein said wedge fitting having at least one depending sidewall further comprises, a one-piece square tubular wall of interconnecting multiple sidewalls with adjoining curved corners from which said contoured lugs respectively extend.
 9. The post mounting and stabilization assembly set forth in claim 7 wherein said contoured lugs are in vertical spaced relation to said inwardly extending flanges. 